A well-printed book starts with a correctly supplied file. The safest way to supply your book is as a print-ready PDF/X. In this article you’ll read step by step what a good PDF meets.
Why PDF/X?
PDF/X is a standardised PDF format specially for print. It ensures fonts are embedded, colours are correct and no elements are missing. That way you can be sure your file prints as you intended.
What to look out for?
- Embedding fonts: so text doesn’t shift.
- Bleed: at least 3 mm around full-bleed images.
- Resolution: images at least 300 dpi at actual size.
- Colour: supply in CMYK, not RGB.
- Separate files: interior and cover as separate PDFs.
Interior and cover
Supply the interior as a continuous PDF with all pages in order (including blank pages). Supply the cover separately, often as one spread including the spine — the spine width depends on your page count and paper. In doubt? We check your file before production.
